The University of South Florida is taking a bold step to bridge academic innovation with real-world startup application through a new partnership with Embarc Collective. USF is the first university to join the startup hub’s new University Partnership Program, helping redefine how higher education institutions can power workforce development and regional economic growth.
The partnership is designed to accelerate the commercialization of university-developed technologies, expand student access to hands-on experience in high-growth startups and support university-affiliated founders with the tools and networks they need to scale.
“This is more than just connecting the dots, it’s the next essential step for how universities must evolve,” USF President Rhea Law said. “This is an important time for higher education in America. We have to be bold and intentional about how we contribute to our communities and fuel our economy. By deepening our partnership with Embarc Collective, and with my joining its Board of Directors, we’re creating more direct pathways for students and faculty to turn ideas into impact and participate in Tampa Bay’s growing innovation ecosystem.”
As the landscape of higher education evolves, USF continues to identify new ways to amplify its impact, such as through public-private partnerships to support innovation, expand opportunities for students and faculty and contribute to economic development. A leader in health sciences, medical engineering and home to the new Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing – the nation’s first named college dedicated to AI and cybersecurity – USF is leading this shift, turning research breakthroughs into real-world impact and setting the standard for what modern higher education must look like.
“We’re not just preparing students for jobs – we’re connecting them to futures in innovation,” said Tim Holocomb, CEO at Embarc Collective. “This experience gives students an insider’s view into early-stage company building and many go on to become future founders, operators or technologists right here in Florida.”
Through this collaboration, startups affiliated with USF and USF CONNECT gain access to Embarc Collective’s full suite of founder support services, including on-demand coaching, a national investor network and a robust library of startup-building resources. These tools are especially powerful for researchers and engineers translating innovations from lab to market, offering the kind of strategic guidance and connectivity typically reserved for high-growth, venture-backed companies.
USF is uniquely positioned to serve as the inaugural partner, as this collaboration builds on Embarc Collective’s existing partnership with the Genspiration Foundation. Founded in 2020 by USF President Emerita Judy Genshaft and Steven Greenbaum, the foundation funds paid internship placements for USF students. Ten USF students are participating in internships this summer. In 2024, 40% of Genspiration interns received full-time or part-time job offers, underscoring the strength of the talent-to-workforce pipeline being built.